Children's Party

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Your prices are a little higher than some I have seen, why is that?

A. We are a professional business, not a backyard hobby, and we pride ourselves on clear communication and follow through. We arrive early for your party ready to make it an occasion to remember. We are fully insured and licensed.

Our ponies are the best in the business, well trained, safe and gentle, and beautifully cared for.

Our handlers are top notch, cheerful and experienced, and they love both children and ponies.

We are happy to be of service to you, and understand that we are privileged to be part of your big day. You will not be disappointed when you have a Seattle Pony Party.

Q. Why do you always bring two ponies?

A. Ponies are herd animals and used to living in a group. They rely on each other like family.

We have also found that many times a child who is afraid of riding a pony alone will be fine riding beside a friend, so two ponies are great! Either way you can't lose, more ponies, means more riding time!

Q. We heard you donate a percentage of your profits to local children's charities, why is that?

A. We feel that we are living our dream and we want to give back to others and share the wonders of life. We acknowledge that there are many children who have never had a birthday party let alone a Pony Party, so we intend to make some of those small dreams into big realities.

When we donate free parties to charity and school auctions or fundraisers, and we offer reduced-price parties to non-profits and churches. Everyone wins in a big way, and we get to see lots and lots of children's smiling faces.

By using Seattle Pony Party you are giving to other children as well, so we thank you deeply.

Q. Are your ponies full grown?

A. Yes, our ponies are over 6 years old, and ponies mature between 3 and 4. The word 'pony' refers to their size not their age. A 'horse' is simply an equine that stands over 14.3 hands (a hand is approx. 4 inches), while a 'pony' is an equine under 14.3 hands.

Our ponies are easy on your lawn as they have small hooves and are not shoed. If you can walk on your grass without squishing, our ponies probably can too. If a patch of your grass begins to suffer during the party we'll shift the riding around a bit or move off the grass.

Q. How many ponies do you recommend for the number of kids I have?

A. We recommend at least one pony for every seven kids. Since we always bring two ponies our standard party will serve up to 14 kids.

For 15-21 kids three ponies are enough, and for 22-28 kids four ponies. If you expect more than 28 kids please consider our Face Painters.

Of course the more ponies we bring, the more riding your kids get. We make extra ponies cheap because we love to see kids riding rather than standing in line. More really is better!

Q. I saw a young child leading a pony at an event, is that safe?

A. We have some very special ponies that can be led by small children. These angel ponies are tried, true and have dispositions of gold.

If you are interested in leading a pony at a party let us know in advance so we can select one of those very special ponies. We also have brushing ponies that love to be groomed and touched all over.

Q. Are there any restrictions?

A. There are no age restrictions for our parties but there are weight limits that protect our ponies' health. Our variously sized ponies have carry weight limits ranging from 40 lbs to 120 lbs, so we will choose ponies to match your kids. We often find, though, that larger kids are quite happy to lead the ponies if they can't ride.

For parties at our location we can provide a horse large enough to carry anyone.

A. Yes, our ponies have an unsurpassed safety record with over 12 years of accident free parties.

We use well-trained ponies with great dispositions, and have competent, professional staff. All our rides are hand-led so there is always a handler within reach of each rider. And if a child looks unsteady in the saddle we'll ask a parent to walk along with him/her. With advance notice we can provide additional handlers to act as side walkers.

We reserve the right to alter or refuse service in the unlikely event that we find an unsafe situation. It is our job to keep everyone safe and happy.

Q. Are ponies dirty... and well, what happens with the poop.

A. Our ponies are well groomed, clean, vaccinated, healthy and ready to bring your children great pleasure. They are not, however, potty trained.

But don't despair: we clean up after our ponies. And composted pony manure makes great fertilizer, so if you compost don't let it get away. In fact if you want lots more Contact us, we can deliver.

Q. Do you use safety belts or other safety equipment?

A. Our main safety equipment is our rock solid ponies and great staff. We do not require riding helmets but you are more than welcome to use your own if you wish.

We never tie anyone on a pony as we feel that is very dangerous.

We do ask parents to walk along side younger children as they ride.

Q. Someone once told me that party ponies lead a sad life of over-work.

A. It is a sad truth that some people misuse their ponies. Their ponies are a means to an end rather than part of the family. If the ponies look skinny, dull coated, and depressed then chances are they are not doing well. If the saddles are in bad shape the ponies may not be getting enough attention either.

Happily most people love their ponies well. At Seattle Pony Party we select our ponies carefully for health and temperament, then we treat them with the respect and firm love due an independent-minded child (think teen-agers).

Our ponies eat the best quality feed and get plenty of days off. They don't work more than four hours a day, and then only with breaks. Most people don't have it this good!

You can read about our Ponies. Attitude makes all the difference, and we want our ponies to be happy and perky.

Q. Will you come to our town?

A. We are happy to bring our ponies to you at these locations and more, just ask. Travel Charges apply more than 30 miles from Snohomish WA.